Chapter 35: Rostia Tower (1)

“…It’s been a while.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

“Ah, nothing. It’s nothing…”

To be exact, the last time I visited Rostia Tower was in my previous life.

This was the first time in this one.

When the demon attacks had grown too fierce to fend off with swords and spears alone, the Order had no choice but to knock on the doors of magic towers scattered across the continent.

And the first tower we approached… was Rostia Tower.

But…

Clench—

“What’s wrong, Kayron?”

“It’s nothing.”

When I clenched my fist, Avelin immediately noticed and asked gently.

“It’s not nothing. You don’t look okay.”

That’s right—Avelin always said I was a terrible liar.

Still, I couldn’t bring myself to say it.

Rostia Tower, despite its prosperity and its proximity to Cresnig…

Had been the one tower that refused to support us until the very end.

They rejected us coldly, simply because they were smaller compared to the other towers.

Even though the Order was desperate for help, Rostia Tower was the first to slam the door in our faces.

They didn’t even send a single healer.

Because of that, the Order, unable to receive immediate aid, suffered massive casualties.

This time… I hoped things would be different.

A small house stood in front of the massive doors of the tower.

As Avelin and I approached, the door creaked open and an elderly man stepped out.

“Welcome… Hm?”

The old gatekeeper of Rostia Tower instantly recognized us from a distance.

“You’re from the Order, aren’t you? And not just anyone—Sir Kayron and Lady Avelin. I never imagined the two most renowned members would come in person.”

“You recognized us right away.”

“Haha, of course I did. You both have a presence that sets you apart. And…”

The gatekeeper’s eyes sharpened as he examined us.

“Individuals with such formidable physiques and mana are rare indeed.”

“You’re no ordinary gatekeeper yourself, are you?”

“Haha…”

He chuckled kindly at my compliment.

But I meant every word.

The title of “gatekeeper” might sound unimpressive—but in truth, it’s a role that only someone exceptional can hold.

A magic tower is a sacred place of learning and research, more so than anywhere else.

And the gatekeeper holds the critical duty of deciding who is permitted to enter that sacred space.

Such a person must possess vast knowledge and insight that puts ordinary scholars to shame.

“It’s rare for someone to speak so generously of a mere gatekeeper. Thank you… truly.”

With that insight and wisdom, the gatekeeper immediately understood our intentions.

“The fact that you two have come in person must mean you’re here to seek the aid of our tower.”

“Well, there’s no point in hiding it, I suppose.”

“Hmm… What to do…”

The gatekeeper stroked his long beard in thought.

“You must already know. As per our policy, we do not allow entry to those who bring no benefit to the tower.”

Hearing that, Avelin, who had been quietly listening, stepped forward.

“What? How could you say we bring no benefit? We’re—!”

“Avelin.”

I calmed her before her voice rose further.

“You don’t think the gatekeeper knows that? Of course he does. I’m sure of it.”

“I’m glad we’re on the same page. Still, the Order is a brave organization fighting to hold back the demons. For that, I will grant you a chance.”

The gatekeeper stepped aside and gestured toward the small house behind him.

“Convince me. If you can do that, perhaps I’ll let you in.”

“Thank you for the opportunity. Come on, let’s go inside.”

I moved to follow the gatekeeper into the house, but Avelin stood still, not budging.

“What’s wrong, Avelin? It’s cold out here. Let’s go inside and warm up. Don’t refuse the gatekeeper’s kindness.”

“…Alright.”

The gatekeeper offered us warm drinks and a tray of cookies.

“Please, help yourselves. If you’d like more, don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll gladly bring more.”

“Thank you…”

At a glance, it seemed like simple hospitality—but there was a deeper meaning.

He was telling us: convincing him would not be easy.

That he could provide all the drinks and snacks we wanted… but opening the doors of the tower would take time, effort, and persuasion.

****

The gatekeeper and the two of us sat across from each other, sipping warm drinks that moistened and soothed our tongues.

It was time to begin the real negotiation.

“I suppose I should speak first.”

The gatekeeper broke the silence.

“As you may know, people say our Rostia Tower is quite prosperous. But that’s only in comparison to the smaller towers. It doesn’t mean we’re flourishing or overflowing with resources. Which is why we can’t offer our strength lightly.”

Just as I expected.

It was the same in my previous life.

Back then, however, the demon invasion had already spread so widely that the world accepted it couldn’t be stopped without magic.

But now? The invasion, while serious, was still containable with current means. Which meant, from the tower’s perspective, there wasn’t enough reason to let us in.

“Of course, we understand. But you also know, if we fall… the demons will spread across the entire world, don’t you?”

“And we also know the world is capable of dealing with that level of chaos without the tower’s involvement.”

“We thought so too. That’s why we held back from asking for help. But the situation has changed. This latest wave… something appeared. A new kind of demon—completely different from anything we’ve seen before.”

“Oh…?”

The gatekeeper’s eyes sparked with curiosity at the mention of a new demon.

Demons vanish in flames the moment they die, making it impossible to study their bodies. But for someone who thrives on knowledge, like a gatekeeper, new information was always a temptation.

As I told him about the massive demon hound, Cerberus, and the desperate battle the Order waged against it, the gatekeeper’s expression grew more serious.

The size, the strength, the speed—it was all concerning enough. But when I mentioned that the creature was commanding other demons, his frown deepened.

“Still… that’s strange. Why didn’t Commander Balthazar intervene?”

“…What?”

That caught me off guard.

He struck from a completely unexpected angle.

“I’ve heard Commander Balthazar possesses enough power to take on an entire nation. Not to mention his insight. And yet, the Order managed to take down such a colossal demon without his involvement. Could it be… perhaps the commander saw this as a test? That he trusted in the Order and chose to observe how you handled it?”

I nearly gasped aloud.

I knew gatekeepers were sharp, but for him to almost perfectly guess the intentions of Commander Balthazar—who enjoys watching humans struggle for survival—was… incredible.

To persuade someone with a mind this sharp, I’d have to give him a reason that was not just special, but compelling.

A reason that would benefit the tower.

“How about… experience?”

“Experience? Go on.”

“Demons carry mana that is foreign and unstable. Fighting them offers horrific, yet unique, experiences that can’t be found anywhere else. In a way, each one is like a living, breathing spell.”

The gatekeeper slowly nodded.

A sign he wasn’t opposed to the idea.

“These days, it’s not easy to gain real-world combat experience. Battles with demons offer just that. Even the injured could provide excellent training for healing mages. Where else can you get such valuable—”

“That’s not quite true.”

This time, he cut me off.

“There are battles happening all over the world, even now. Many of them are against beings more powerful than demons. And those missions often come with rewards. Can the Order offer something better than that?”

“Mm…”

He wasn’t wrong.

The Order didn’t have the means to pay, and demons—at least for now—weren’t as powerful as they had been in my past life.

What else could I say…?

“There are demons hiding among us.”

Avelin spoke, her expression deadly serious.

“…What?”

“What did you just say?”

“I said there are demons hiding among us. Even within the Order. One of our squad leaders was a demon. It’s classified information… but I think now’s the time to share it.”

Avelin nodded firmly, showing no hint of regret in revealing the secret.

“That’s interesting. But what does that have to do with our tower?”

“We’re saying—you never know. There could be demons hiding in Rostia Tower too.”

“…?”

To drive the point home, Avelin gave me a light pat on the back.

“We’ll check for you. Kayron right here will do it himself.”

-- The End OF The Chapter --

 

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